《风语河岸柳》第3章野树林(5)（打印版）

'I can understand that, 'said the Rat kindly. 'You see, Mole, it's really not a good idea to come here alone.

我能理解，水鼠和善地说，你看，鼹鼠，独自来这儿真不是好主意。

We river bankers always come in twos or threes, if we have to come here. Of course, if you're Badger or Otter, then there's no problem. '

我们河边动物如果有事非来不可时总是三三两两地来这儿。当然如果是獾或水獭，那就没问题。

'Surely the brave Mr Toad is happy to come here alone, isn't he?' asked the Mole.

勇敢的癞蛤蟆先生肯定高兴独自来这儿，是不是？鼹鼠问。

'Old Toad?' said the Rat, laughing loudly. 'He doesn't put his nose inside the Wild Wood-much too frightened! '

老蛤蟆？水鼠大声地笑起来，他甚至不敢把他的鼻子伸进野树林—他怕得要死！

The Mole felt a little happier when he heard this, but he was still too tired to start the journey home.

鼹鼠听了这个觉得有点儿开心，但他还是太累而不能启程回家。

So he lay down to sleep under some dry leaves, while the Rat sat next to him, patiently waiting.

于是他躺在一些干叶上睡着了，水鼠坐在他的身边耐心地等待着。

The Mole woke up feeling much better, and ready to leave.

鼹鼠醒来感到好多了，便准备离开这儿。

The Rat put his head out of the entrance of the hole, and then the Mole heard him say, 'Oh dear, oh dear! '

水鼠把头伸出洞口，这时鼹鼠听到水鼠叫到：啊呀，啊呀！

'What's the matter, Ratty?' asked the Mole.

怎么啦，阿鼠？鼹鼠问。

'Snow, 'replied the Rat. 'It's snowing hard.

下雪了，水鼠答道，雪下得可大啦。

But we can't stay here all night-it's too cold, and too dangerous.

但是我们不能在这儿呆一晚上—这太冷，而且很危险。

We'll just have to start walking, and hope. The trouble is, I don't really know where we are, and in the snow everything looks so different. '

我们得马上动身，这样还有些希望。麻烦的是，我真的不知道我们在哪儿，雪天里什么看起来都与往日不同。

It did indeed. The white blanket of snow covered everything, hiding the paths, changing the shapes of the trees and bushes.

的确是变了样。雪像白色的毛毯覆盖了一切，遮了小路，改变了树林和灌木丛的形状。

An hour later, they were wet, cold, aching with tiredness, and had no idea where they were.

一小时以后，他们又湿又冷，累得浑身酸疼，但还是不知道身在何处。